Byzantine Heritage in Bulgaria and Northern Greece

Available dates for 2012:
Sat 9 June – Sun 17 June 2012
Sat 21 July – 29 July 2012
Sat 11 August – Sun 19 August 2012
Sat 08 Sept – Sun 16 September 2012
Or any other date for groups of 6 participants or more

Trip Highlights:
•    City of Sofia and Boyana Church (UNESCO)
•    Plovdiv and Batchkovo Monastery
•    Rila Monastery (UNESCO)
•    Melnik town and Rojen Monastery
•    Meteora Monasteries (UNESCO)
•    Old City of Thessaloniki (UNESCO)

Day 1: Arrival in Bulgaria
Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the city center
Night stop: Sofia (capital of Bulgaria)
Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Day 2: Sofia and Boyana Church (UNESCO)
Morning tour of Sofia including the Church of St George Rotunda, St Sofia Basilika, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Crypt (a unique collection of icons), Boyana Church (frescoes dated 1295). Afternoon visit: to the National Museum of History.
Optional visit: Kremikovtsi Monastery (1495)
Night stop: Sofia (capital of Bulgaria)
Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 3: Plovdiv and Bachkovo Monastery
Transfer to the city of Plovdiv, the former Philipopolis, founded by Philp ІІ of Macedonia. Visit of the Architectural complex The Old Town: the Roman stadium, the Roman Amphitheatre, The Mosque “Djumaia Djamia” – one of the three examples of the oldest type of Ottoman worship buildings still preserved on the Balkan Peninsula
Around the city one can admire several medieval monasteries; among them is Batchkovo Monastery (10th). It is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. Visit: The church of the Assumption with murals, dating from17th c. and the monastery refectory and its unique medieval frescos of the Genealogical Tree if Jesus Christ.
In the afternoon: transfer to the western footsteps of Rila Mountains.
Night stop: Usoika village
Accommodation: 3* Hotel 
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4: Rila Monastery (UNESCO) - Melnik 
Morning visit: the most famous landmark of Bulgaria – the Great Rila Monastery.  Rila Monastery is the biggest orthodox sanctuary in Bulgaria  and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in the 10th century by the saint hermit Ivan Rilski. Visit: the church of the Holy Virgin – its painted frescos (dated 1847) and the wooden iconostasis are among the most impressive ones in Bulgaria. Later: hike to the hermitage of St. Ivan Rilski. Next stop nearby is the Varosha Old city-center of Blagoevgrad with a wonderful Archbishop’s church (frescoes and altar).
Night stop: Melnik
Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5: Melnik and Rojen Monastery
The town of Melnik is an architectural reserve and 96 of its buildings are cultural monuments. With a population of 285, it is the smallest town in Bulgaria, retaining its city status today for historical reasons (12.000 inhabitants in 1912). The town is famous for its wine producing traditions, authentic architecture and sandstone pyramids, surrounding the area. We will visit the Byzantine’s Kordopulova House, built in 18th c. and known as the biggest Revival Architecture House. Walk around the town and admire the unique architecture of the place. Later, visit of the nearby Rozhen Monastery (located 6 km southeast of Melnik).
Dinner: in traditional restaurant type “Mehana”.
Night stop: Melnik
Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6: Melnik – Seres- Kalambaka
After breakfast, transfer from Melnik to Seres (1h15) to admire one of the outstanding monasteries in the upper mountain.
Then transfer to Kalambaka and free evening. We enjoy the night lightening of the Meteora (Distance between Melnik – Kalambaka: 360 Km, estimated driving time 4.30 hours)
Night stop: Kastraki
Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 7:  Meteora (UNESCO)
The Metéora is one of the largest and most important and outstanding complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world. “Meteora” means “in the heavens above” and they are six monasteries built on natural sandstone rock pillars. The place is declared UNESCO World Heritage site. Six monasteries from, medieval times are still in operation, each of them is of great interest. We will visit two of these hidden monasteries with professional local guide. Later we will make a walk on the trail that was once used by the monks.
Night stop: Kastraki
Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Thessaloniki Old Town (UNESCO)
Transfer to Thessaloniki (220km, estimated driving time 2.30 hours).
Enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of the city with local guide. Later, we will visit of the Museum of Byzantine culture and the Saint Demetrius Church (UNESCO Heritage Site) and St. Sophia.
Later in the evening, we will enjoy a walk along the waterfront from the port to beyond the Aspros Pirgos (White Tower).
Night stop: Thessaloniki
Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Departure from Thessaloniki
Transfer to Airport


PRICES/ PERSON
For 6 – 7 participants: 1465€/person
For 8 – 9 participants: 1265€/person
For 10 – 11 participants: 1165€/person
For 12 – 13 participants: 1125€/person
For 14 – 15 participants: 1090€/person
For 16 – 17 participants: 990€/person

Price includes:

• Accommodation in 3-4*hotels
• Breakfast at hotels
• Dinners in day  2, 3, 4, 5,
• English speaking  guide
• Transfer by private bus
• Entrance fees for: The Crypt in Sofia, Boyana Church (UNESCO), Bachkovo Monastery, Byzantine Culture Museum in Thessaloniki, 2 Meteora Monasteries
• Local guiding to 2 Meteora Monasteries, the Byzantine Culture Museum and Thessaloniki town
  

Price excludes:

• Personal expenses
• Drinks and beverages
• Meals: dinners in day 1, 6, 7, 8 and all lunches
• Optional gratuities to leader, guides and local staff